Books On Our Radar: Vol. 3

THE SHORT OF IT: The Santa Monica-based celebrity designer showcases his tailored, coastal aesthetic in interiors spanning Malibu beach hideaways to London townhouses.
BUY IT FOR: Your friend who (just like us) is actively mourning the cancellation of Bravo's Million Dollar Decorators.
QUOTABLE: "I strive to create rooms that are beautiful, of course--but far more important to me is that I create spaces that show the unique meaning of home for each person, couple, and family I work with." --Jeffrey Alan Marks

THE SHORT OF IT: The man widely considered to be the torchbearer for a relaxed and classic all-American look, as pioneered by design legends such as Billy Baldwin and David Hicks, gets the monograph treatment.
BUY IT FOR: Your neighbor, whose maximalist tendencies have gotten a little out of control.
QUOTABLE: "Part artist, part crusty curmudgeon, and part solicitous alpha dog and family man, Scheerer has fast, blazingly confident opinions about anything to do with a house (and also the rest of life)." -- Mimi Read

THE SHORT OF IT: Known for their genius vegetarian dishes and indulgent desserts, the duo behind beloved London-based luxe deli mini-chain Ottolenghi and the restaurant Nopi bring their Mediterranean-inspired cookbook to the US.
BUY IT FOR: Your niece, who just started at UC Berkeley.
QUOTABLE: "We wanted to start this book with the quip, "If you don't like lemon or garlic ... skip to the last page." -- Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi

THE SHORT OF IT: Tyler Brûlé's cult-followed, urban-focused journal turns its attention to a beautifully designed survey of the world's cities--touching on everything from the best coffee bars to the handmade furniture shops you need to know about.
BUY IT FOR: Your boss, who prizes his coffee table styling above all else.
QUOTABLE: "Above all, our guide is a global chronicle of the people, places and products that aim high, deliver value, challenge convention and force us all to up our game." --Tyler Brûlé

THE SHORT OF IT: An encyclopedic look at 500 of the most influential products from the last five centuries that name-checks the Eameses and the crew at Apple, and pays tribute to the likes of the martini glass and the paper clip.
BUY IT FOR: Your coworker, who is always taking out patents on "really big game-changing ideas" she can't tell you about.
QUOTABLE: "Sheep shears, which have been around in the same basic shape for thousands of years, form part of the anonymous crowd of neglected masterpieces of design."
Photographs: Vendome Press, Phaidon, Rizzoli, Gestalten, Random House